Gambling legislation passed in Myanmar

Myanmar has gone one more inch closer to welcome casino industry to the country. The lower house of the Legislature has passed a bill that would allow foreigner-casinos in the country. The bill, titled the Gambling Bill 2018, was introduced a couple of months ago. It will add amendments to the existing Gambling Act of 1986.

Though the new piece of legislation could mean progress for the segment, legislator Nay Myo Tun asserted that “it is not a casino law” as “the casino law has many sections.” He further explained that the detailed rules and regulations for a casino industry to be installed would be determined after proper framework legislation was passed.

Even though it is still unclear when the segment might arrive in Myanmar, legislators agree that it won’t be developed for locals. “Only foreigners would be allowed into the casinos,” a member of the parliament said. Lawmaker Aung Hlaing Win also explained that the government would “target areas with the most foreigners, such as near the border” to develop gambling venues.

According to director-general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration Aung Naing Oo, there has already been interest from a number of casino operators (including some that operate in Macau) to invest in the country should the segment be cleared.